Improvement in car-brakes



S. E. HARRISON.

Improvement in Car-Brakes.

N0.127,233. V PatentedMay28,1872.

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nuuunlvnl proved brake.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN E. HARRISON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l27,233, dated May 28, 1872.

Specification describing anew and Improved Oar-Brake,invented by STEPHEN E. HARRI- sON, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut.

Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a railroad car provided with my im- Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the same on the line a c, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section of the clevis attachment to the toggle-lever.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. a

This invention relates to a new mechanism for applying the brakes to the wheels of steam or horse cars; and consists principally in connecting the brakebeams by toggle-levers, and in applying springs to said levers for holding them expanded, all as hereinafter more fully described.

A in the drawing represents the car-body. B are the wheels, mounted on axles C C in the ordinary manner. D D are the brake-beams, carrying at their ends the brake-shoes E E. Fis a toggle-lever, which, at its ends, is connected with the brakebeams D D, its joint a in the middle having a clevis, b, to which the ends of chains G G are secured. These chains extend to the ends of the car, respectively,

where they are fastened to shafts d d, as shown.

Pinions e e on the shafts d mesh into sliding racks f that can be forced down by the driver or attendant to so turn the shafts as to wind the chains upon them. A spring, 9, serves to keep the toggle-levers distended, and thereby to hold the brake-shoes away from the wheels.

Whenever one of the chains is wound around The chains G can be made extensible or contractible by right-and-left nuts h applied within them to jointed rods.

The ends of the toggle-levers, where they pass through the beams D, are provided with screw-threads and held by nuts it, so that by shifting said nuts the distance between the brake-beams can be more or less varied, as may be found necessary.

Suitable catches for holding the racks f down and the brakes applied may be provided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The toggle-lever F, held in line by a straight spring, 9, connected at each end to reverselyacting brake-beams D D, and attached at the middle to chains G. G, which, respectively, extend to each end of car, as and for the purpose set forth.

STEPHEN E. HARRISON.

Witnesses GEO. O. CRUTTENDEN, ELIPHALE'I KILLAM. 

